The Tema-Mpakadan Railway line is set to open on October 1, as announced by Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Transport Minister. He noted that the train involved in an accident during a test drive on the Tema-Mpakadan Railway in 2024 has been repaired. A successful test run of the railway was conducted on September 16, 2025.
Mr. Nikpe made these remarks during the Government Accountability Series press conference held at the Presidency in Accra. He emphasised that the government aims to modernise and expand railway infrastructure for fleet and passenger services, which will create jobs, boost local economies, and foster trade.
The 97-kilometer Tema to Mpakadan Railway Line is part of a multimodal system connecting Tema Port to Buipe Port via the Volta Lake and has now been completed. However, the rail line’s viability relies on fleet services and necessitates further investment in port infrastructure to enable efficient cargo transfer between rail and the lake. Mr. Nikpe indicated that the government is taking measures to initiate operations along the line.
Regarding the Western Railway Line, Mr. Nikpe explained that it spans 330 kilometres from Takoradi to Kumasi, with a branch line extension from Dunkwa to Awaso. He noted that construction on several sections of the line—the 22 kilometres from Kojokrom to Manso, the 78 kilometres from Takoradi Port to Huni Valley, and the 6 kilometres from Adum to Kaase—has been halted since December 2024 due to unpaid payment certificates by the administration.
To address these outstanding issues and allow contractors to resume work, the government, through the Ministry of Transport and the Ghana Railway Development Authority, is engaging stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney-General’s Office. “I am delighted to share with you that Amandi Construction, one of the contractors, has resumed work and is currently on site,” he said.
The Minister said the Ghana Railway Development Authority was currently collaborating with the Security Agencies and the Lands Commission to launch a campaign to remove encroachers from the railway right-of-way and perfect titles to railway lines nationwide. He said this was to enable their contractors to have unimpeded assets to learn and facilitate early completion of railway projects.
Touching on Railway Labour Issues and Ghana Railway Company Limited Staff Salaries, Mr Nikpe said the Ghana Railway Company’s operations had declined over the years due to infrastructure deterioration, which had limited its capacity to generate sufficient revenue to cover its costs, including staff salaries.
“We are engaging with the Ministry of Finance and stakeholders to develop a sustainable solution going forward,” the Minister said. “I must add that we feel for the workers, and we have gotten close to resolving this issue and getting them their salaries.”
Source: GNA
